CEAC-2022-09-September

News
Industrial Ruggedized Computing
Solutions for Hazardous Manufacturing
Environments
In industrial manufacturing environments, facilities regularly
store and dispense large quantities of hazardous, flamm -
ble, combustible liquids. Given the potential for gas, vapor
or dust to collect in these areas, the electronic equipment
installed for automation and control must be designed specifically
to prevent unintentional ignition of these elements
due to electrical arcing or other thermal means.
Although much attention is given to the automation system
components used to control the process itself, these systems
also require computing equipment such as thin clients, panel
PCs, remote touch displays, KVM (keyboard, video, mouse)
solutions, as well as fixed and mobile operator workstations.
Given the risks, this equipment must also meet the requirements
for use in areas classified as hazardous, and be rugged
enough to withstand the harsh chemical and high-humidity
environments generated during the industrial manufacturing
process.
“In industry, the manufacturing, processing, storing and distribution
of flammable materials release gases or vapors in
the atmosphere which can result in an explosion or hazard,”
says Paul Shu of Arista Corporation, a leading provider of
computing platforms and visualization display products including
thin clients, all-in-one panel computers, ruggedized
LCD touch displays, and industrial KVM solutions. “To create
a safe and secure working environment, the computing
systems at the worksite must, by regulation, be designed to
pass the explosion-proof certification and be able to wit -
stand the corrosive environment.”
Ruggedized Computing Solutions for Hazardous
Environments
there are several methods by which equipment can be
made flame- and explosion-proof. For computing systems,
equipment manufacturers that serve the market can design
and manufacture thin clients, industrial panel PCs, and
touch-panel PCs that are UL certified, non-incendive (equi -
ment having electrical/electronic circuitry that is incapable,
under normal operating conditions, of causing ignition of
a specified flammable gas, vap , dust, etc., due to arcing
or thermal means), and that meet the requirements for the
various classes/divisions/zones within a plant or station.
Arista, for example, offers a wide range of panel mount and
fully sealed touch-panel PCs for use in industrial settings. The
fully enclosed version is constructed of stainless steel and has
no external vents. This design protects the components from
gases, dust, dirt, moisture, chemicals, oil and other external
contaminants in an explosive environment.
According to Shu, the touch-panel PCs in various sizes are
routinely deployed as HMI workstations in hazardous industrial
operations, which can include the storage and distribution
of large volumes of flammable and combustible liquids.
For this type of application, the panel mount PCs are fan-less,
ruggedized systems certified for use in Class 1 Division 2,
Class 2 Division 2, and Class 3 Divisions 1 & 2 hazardous areas.
The systems are installed with a Windows operating system
and the high-resolution touch screens can be manipulated by
operators wearing heavy-duty industrial gloves.
The company also offers fan-less thin client versions as well,
which are increasingly popular in industry as a cost-effective
way to develop a virtual desktop for more centralized man-
In simple terms, a hazardous classified location is any area,
building, commercial or industrial premises likely to be exposed
to fire or explosion due to the presence of flammabl
gases, vapors, flammable liquids, combustible dust and other
similar materials in very high amounts.
Hazardous locations can be classified into various categories
according to the nature of flammable vapors or liquids. In
North America, a class/division system is primarily utilized,
and regulations related to the design and manufacturing of
industrial equipment are formulated by the NEC, CEC, OSHA,
and NFPA (National Fire Protection Association). Outside of
North America, a similar “zone” system is used to define and
categorize hazardous areas and potential risk sources.
To meet the requirements of industrial environments,
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| Chief Engineer
0922 issue.indd 18 8/22/22 3:27 PM